Nothing Phone 4a GCam vs Stock Cam - Results are Surprising

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Nothing Phone (4a) has been a hot topic among tech groups, though not always for the right reasons. While its predecessors were hailed for their aggressive pricing, the Phone (4a) has faced scrutiny for its significant price hike, starting at ₹31,999. Many fans feel the “amazing value for money” tag is slipping away, especially given the fierce competition in the mid-range segment.

Despite the price hike, Nothing has packed in serious camera hardware: a 50MP primary lens, an 8MP ultrawide, and, for the first time in the ‘a’ series, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom.

Further, the Phone (4a) brings the all-new TrueLens engine 4.0. This is a new software processing algorithm that Nothing claims provides superior color accuracy and professional-grade bokeh. While we’re yet to see the real-world impact of the new camera processing engine, let’s first see how it stacks up against the legendary GCam.

Since Nothing devices are usually GCam-friendly, I tested the latest stable build to see if it can beat Nothing’s native tuning.

How to Install GCam on Nothing Phone (4a)

Nothing devices remain very GCam-friendly. You can install most compatible versions, and they generally work without a hitch. For the best results on (4a), follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the APK from the following link: (GCam download link)

Step 2: Install the APK and grant the necessary permissions.

Step 3: Open and shoot. It works out of the box. No custom XMLs are available as of right now.

GCam vs Stock Camera on Nothing Phone 4a: Which One Performs Better?

Coming to the actual comparison, the main camera is where the difference is most evident.

GCam produces more natural-looking photos with flatter colors and a less “digital” feel. This is excellent for users who like to post-process their shots. However, GCam tends to crush shadows aggressively, losing detail in darker regions. HDR performance is hit-or-miss, especially in harsh sunlight, where highlights can blow out.

Nothing Phone (4A) camera sample — Stock

Meanwhile, the stock camera delivers a more polished image with stronger HDR, punchier colors, and a social-media-ready look. Thanks to the TrueLens engine, the stock app handles dynamic range much more effectively than the current GCam ports.

The Periscope & Ultrawide Problem.

This is where GCam falls short. On the Nothing Phone (4a), GCam does not support the auxiliary lenses. You are locked to the main 50MP sensor and the selfie camera. This means the 4a’s standout feature, the 3.5x optical periscope zoom, and the 8MP ultrawide are completely inaccessible within the GCam app.

While the stock camera allows you to jump from 0.6x to 3.5x optical (and up to 50x digital) with consistent color grading, GCam limits you to digital cropping on the main sensor, resulting in blurry, low-detail “zoom” shots.

Selfies and Video Selfies are a clear win for the stock camera. GCam selfies often look dull and poorly exposed, with skin tones appearing pale. The stock 32MP selfie camera, however, produces bright, sharp, and color-accurate photos.

Video is also superior on the stock app. Nothing has optimized the 4K recording with great stabilization that GCam simply cannot match, especially since GCam lacks access to the OIS/EIS optimizations specific to this hardware.

Final Verdict

The conclusion is straightforward. While GCam offers a more natural color profile on the main sensor, it introduces too many compromises for a device at this price point.

The loss of the periscope telephoto and ultrawide lenses makes GCam a “downgrade” for daily use. When you’ve paid a premium for a triple-camera system, you want to use all of it. For the Nothing Phone (4a), the stock camera is clearly the better, more versatile option.

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